TO: HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM: STEVE MAYER
DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2022
RE: AGENDA ITEM A-3 (Tenant Protections)
Please permit this communication to augment the record with previous public communication.
These submittals originated with the Planning Commission in 2019.
They depicted the experiences of four Beverly Hills residents who originally resided at 425 North Palm. These residents were displaced so that 18 apartment units could be replaced by 20 condos.
On especially poignant account was from an 80-year-old senior woman who had been a 35-year resident of Beverly Hills. Her life was completely upended so that a developer could pocket some extra small change.
These experiences were part of public communication regarding relocation fees discussion before the Council in March, 2019.
Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor & Councilmembers
Agenda Item G-1
March 4, 2019
EXHIBIT A
PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
(For Agenda Item 3 of the February 28, 2019 Meeting)
From: johnnie miles
To: Juan Arauz
Subject: 425-429
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2019 7:58:35 AM
Dear Sirs, I am an 80 year senior who resided at 425 North Palm Dr. for 23 years and a Beverly Hills resident for 35 years. Having to move from the city was a great hardship and heartbreak.
The first issue was the relocation fee. As you know there is no low income senior housing in the city and none outside the city limits that did not have a 5 year waiting period.. When I finally found an apartment it was $300. dollars over the previous rent.
Secondly as I am a non-driver the location was perfect walk ability to markets,shopping, health care and entertainment. (public transportation literally outside the door). With this increase in rent it has actually meant the difference in the quality of food I can no longer afford, and entertainment I enjoy.. I also had to eliminate a great amount of personal belongings such as furniture,clothing and other memento's that was so precious to me in order to bring down the cost of moving expenses. These are memories that can never be replaced .
Lastly, there was a safety issue that is so paramount to seniors who live alone. My wonderful neighbors (some who had been thre as long as I) were lie family and we all looked out for one another and not that we ever needed them the BHPD was always a call away.
In closing I will forever miss my wonderful neighborhood Respectfully,
Ms Johnnie Miles
--
Johnnie Miles
From: Anita Rashtian
To: Juan Arauz
Subject: 425-429 North Palm - Planning Commission Hearing Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 7:32:16 PM
Hi Juan,
I will be grateful if you can pass this on to the commissioner prior to tomorrow’s hearing regarding the extension the owner is asking for regarding the project on North Palm Drive. I would be there, but I will be at work.
First and foremost, this is utterly unexceptional that they are asking for an extension, especially in the rush manner that we got kicked out of the unit. My elderly parents couldn’t find any apartment in the area, as big as their unit at 429 North Palm Drive without a significant increase in their rent-let alone many places wouldn’t take their dog. My senior parents and I were completely rushed, with anxiety and stress, we found a tremendously small one-bedroom, one-bathroom, just to stay in the area. They can barely fit 6 people in their apartment. The shower and bathroom can barely accommodate my dad and his needs. They were living in a two-bedroom, three bathroom apartment. The pressure, anxiety, stress was so much for us all. My dad fell a few times in the new apartment, he is 75 years old. He was hospitalized in early December, a various of combinations, but that move did not help him and progressed his condition to be this way. I blame the move partly for it! Same with my Mother, who is 65, and went through deep depression after the move. All their furniture was destroyed because it wouldn’t fit into the new apartment. This move was devastating in all aspects. Let’s not begin talk about the previous owner and property management company, which had control to hold onto our security deposit until after we moved out, took out unnecessary money out of their deposit from the miscalculations they made, and I tried to resolve the problem with getting a mediator involved- they NEVER responded to the mediator, or any of my calls or e-mails, because they sold the apartment building and they didn’t care anymore-the true definition of slumlords! It’s been sad, as I even go to my parents home, which is right across the street, I am sad- I still am very emotional over this all. I see people coming in and out of the building-LIVING there! I still see the sadness in my parents eyes16 years of living there and getting kicked out the way we did. Now, they want an extension?! They don’t deserve an extension! My parents should have the right to move back into their unit, if people are living there. Are they paying rent? Don’t we have the first right to move back? What is going on with protecting seniors? Where are their rights?
They don’t deserve an extension- they aren’t doing anything with the building. People are living there- nothing has been done. When are they going to put a stop to this ridiculousness and keep the apartment buildings as is and allow the previous tenants the right to move back to their units? Please confirm you received this and will pass it on.
Best,
Anita Rashtian
Sent from my iPhone
From: Coxall, Chris
To: Juan Arauz
Subject: 425-429 North Palm Dr
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 3:40:12 PM
Dear Sir / Madam,
Ahead of your planning committee meeting tomorrow regarding the time extension for the development of 425-429 N Palm Dr I wanted to write you to express my frustration with the process.
I had lived at 425 N Palm Dr for approximately 8 years, the latter few with my wife, and have made some lasting friendships with neighbors and in the wider community / area. When we were forced to vacate the premises it was not only a huge disappointment but also has created a financial burden due to cost of living in the area which we now loved. From paying approximately $1,950pm for a 2 bedroom apartment, we moved two blocks to Doheny Dr into a similar sq footage apartment (also 2 bed) and are now paying $4,000pm.
Going for walks around the neighborhood and seeing that our building has now just sat there empty for almost a year my frustration grows and would love to better understand why we were forced to move if there was no plan in place to do anything with the building? I understand they wish to develop it but knowing the location and the disruption involved, it seems that putting some money into the building and increasing the rent moderately would have been a much better situation for all involved.
Best,
Chris Coxall
(formerly Apt C, 425 N Palm Dr, Beverly Hills)
From: Victoria Sterling
To: Juan Arauz
Subject: Fw: No Just Cause Evictions
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2019 9:05:09 AM
Hello,
I know that there is a commission meeting today and just wanted to add my perspective on what happened to the tenants at 425-429 N Palm. About a year ago, we were all given 60 day notices of eviction. Not for cause. Simply because the new owners wanted to clear the buildings.
I know there is a free market theory among some landlords that an apartment is a commodity just like a car. Whomever can pay the highest asking price gets the asset. But housing doesn't work like that. It is more like a utility. Reliable housing (assuming no illegal activities on the part of the tenant) is crucial to our communities. It is how we come to know and care for our elderly neighbors and help families with small children. It frequently overlaps with our faith communities. To say nothing of how continuity of housing impacts families with children in area schools. The idea that landlords can just evict law abiding rent paying tenants solely for the purpose of jacking up the rent is incredibly disruptive and stressful to tenants. Landlords are not in the business of selling widgets. Housing is different. Think of how protected and safe you feel when you come home at the end of the day.
I know that the city has an interest in fairness in housing so that all residents can thrive in our city.
Landlords do have rights; but No Just Cause Evictions shouldn't be one of them.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this topic.
Kind regards,
Victoria Sterling